New-York tribune., 1887-04-14
THE GEORGIA PLAN.
THE NEW SOUTH AS IT Is IN FACT.

HOW DEMOCRATIC soIIDIrY Is MAINTAINED AND
REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT Is OvxRTHRowN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Your recent editorial on the election sys-
tenn which exists in Georgia should fix public atten
tion not merely upon the remarkable results therein
stated but upon the no less remarkable means Oy
which they haze been produced. Such attention VIII
tend to dspel all the illusions which the wordy periods
OF ambitious orators have striven TO create.
You compared the vote east in 1886 by the minority
in Maine and Vermont with the yote cast in the same
year by the minority in Georgia The comparison 10
astounding But the contrast In results is not Eore
marked than is the contrast between the election
system of England and the election system OF the
Cult States In Maine and Vermont the whole cleo
tora population is invited to the polls on equal terms
and it goes. knowing that each lawful vote offered Will
be received and # received will be counted and re-
turned cast But in Georgia the whole electoral
population is ,t invited at all but the larger part OF
it is distinctly rcpeed and repeed by the act Of the
State ITSELF which deliberately denies adequate facil
ties for polling the vote and which adverses the fact
in order that oil may know it. The plan Is this:
The State assents that municipalities may regulate
the number of polls at strictly municipal elections ;
but IL asserts the exclusive right to fix by act OF the
Legislature, the number OF polls at State and National
elections, and ott er power change that number
Free play is thus allowed on local affairs Rigid re-
preston is enforced on State and National affairs and
tor obvious purpose. II is evde that denial by
the State OF sufficient number OF polls in city or
county is perfect bar against general suffrage The
plan has advantages over the old system. Ii requires
bludgeCn rifle. hence responsibility to courts
for the consequences which may flow from the use Of
them. II calls for troops. with al the publicity
which that form of force terrorism involves s
you observe remedy quite peaceful 10 torn and much
more effective than the vulgar methods which were
preferred. Ii is the refined weapon OF cultured
unscrupulousness which smiles while it snites-
See how effectively IL has operated. 1t was contrived
after the ption of the Constitution OF Georgia
in December 1877. OF the 321, ABS electors in
Georgia in 1850 but 15s 600 about one-half voted
at the Presidential election of that year. OF the
100000 electors in 1854, but 3,6lO. or about 40
per cent voted at the Presidential election of that year.
OF the $4,000 electors in 1886 only ,5O1. or
about 80 per cent voted in 1856 at the State election
for Governor legislative and county officers and but
1853. about per cent the election for Repre-
sentatves In Congress In the only contested district
With but $3.50 votes were poed In the WITH Dis
trict OF Minnesota there 64. .933 votes cast.
Startling these figures are they indicate merely the
decay OF public life in Georgia under the steady and
crushing repression practised by the State See In
what spirit that Legislature exercises its discretionary
power the polls The city OF Atlanta is the most
prosperous municipality in the State 1t has popula
ton OF 10000 souls, voting population OF 1000.
How many polling places given to that number OF
voters Exactly two-neither more nor less. This
act is based necessarily, upon the theory either that
the whole vote OF that city ought not to be pollabe
that each set OF election officers capable OF receiving
and counting 5000 votes In twelve hours This
would be equalled il the Legislature OF New-York
State should abolish the s03 polling places exist
ing in NewYork City and give it thirty Elk, abolish
the 26S polling places now existing in the city of
Brooklyn and give il sixteen. Nor Atlantar p ght
exceptional The city OF Savannah is with like iiber
alitY gwen polling place Tor s many thousands of
voters. In the country distrcts the results
reached by slightly differing and Georgia is
bound hand and foot while the sp9ilsmen riot in their
shame.
Such is the actual condition OF government in the
central State OF the " new South and in the very
home OF its most gushing euogist The contempt and
indignation which instiDctsely niame every honest
mind are the proper answer OF the North to this plan
OF the new South for defying the Constitution oil
tho country and annulling its XVIII Amendment.
The new South indeed In its pur poses II Is the
old South which resisted alike the XIilth Amend
| ment the XIyth Amendment and the XVIII Amend
IL resstei the XlIlth Amendment because then
unwilling 10 abolish slavery for the security which
| IL made the Rebellion. It resisted the XIVth Amend
ment because that denied TO 10 the advantage OF repre-
sentng tho colorel unless the South conceded
suffrage to the col 1red And IL resisted then and
il repudiates the XVIII Amendment because II Is
determined 10 have the increased political power which
emancipation gave the South without sharing the
power in the least degree with the freedmen who give
H. Thus IL stands In 1887 exactly where II stood in
1896 Tho new South in politics 10 myth The
present attitude OF the Gulf States IL that OF covert
deserves no than open Notification In
1882 got from Andrew jackson. or fragrant secession
In 1860 got from Abraham Lincoln. IL IL dchling
representative institutions s pouring contempt upon
their foundation stone the ireemans suhrage and IN
governing through this defiant cfime, which 10
ccssful ns yet. NJ.
Aetr- York, April o, 1857.